Collins Introduces Gigabit Opportunity Act

U.S. Congressman Doug Collins has introduced the Gigabit Opportunity Act to promote broadband development in rural areas such as Northeast Georgia.

For the past several years, Collins has been spearheading an effort on Capitol Hill to make broadband more accessible to businesses in rural regions.

In a prepared statement issued late Monday, Collins cited Northeast Georgia as an example of a rural area where economic growth is stifled due to a lack of  meaningful broadband access.

Collins said future education, jobs and economic success are tied to digital infrastructure.

“Communities all across Northeast Georgia and really across the country have seen growth stall by the lack of meaningful broadband access,” said Collins. “The 21st Century education, jobs and economic success are tied to digital infrastructure, that’s why I’ve introduced the GO Act to increase broadband investment in rural America.”

Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin agrees.

With the expansion of the Hayestone Brady Business Park and new businesses such as NIFCO-KTW moving in, Martin said it’s vital the county have the latest broadband infrastructure available.

“Very few things are more important than robust broadband connectivity and to the extent that this legislation will help our companies make the decisions they need to make to increase that service is going to be a huge deal for us,” said Martin.

If passed, Collins said the Go Act would incentivize private investment in rural broadband.

The Act also creates state-designated “Gigabit Opportunity Zones.”

Additionally, Collins said the legislation encourage states and local governments to remove the burdens of outdated public policies on the broadband industry, thus fostering more competition.

Collins said the Go Act dovetails with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) plan to support government efforts to streamline broadband regulations.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Senate companion bill, which FCC Chairman Ajit Pai commended as an important step toward closing the digital divide.